Cold Weather is Coming: Dress Appropriately – Please consider sending your student to school in a warm winter coat. You are welcome to put a lighter jacket in the backpack. We never know what morning or afternoon recess will bring so it is better to be prepared. (Message from Principal Miller)Tree of Hugs- There is a tree in the front of our school. We are collecting donations of gloves, hats, and scarves for kids who are in need. All of the donations will be hung on the tree up front.Food Donation- I sent home a paper earlier this week about the food we are collecting for families in need. Second grade is responsible for bringing in cereal foods. Thank you in advance for your help!Next Week’s Spelling Words: th and whSpelling Homework: I know the new spelling homework takes a lot of paper. I am sending home a package of notebook paper with your child today for them to use for that spelling homework. Lesson #15 Spelling Wordsteeth whenthen wheelwith whatthan whilethem whichmouth whistleReading Logs- We are still doing the monthly reading logs (Book It!) that your child needs to read 300 minutes a month to receive a free pizza. You can log those same minutes on your child’s spelling homework under the reading section.Specials ScheduleMonday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)Tuesday - ComputerWednesday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)Thursday – MusicFriday – Art/LibraryUpcoming Events:November 30- Tiger Pride AssemblyDecember 24th through January 4th-No School (Winter Break)

Cold Weather is Coming: Dress Appropriately – Please consider sending your student to school in a warm winter coat. You are welcome to put a lighter jacket in the backpack. We never know what morning or afternoon recess will bring so it is better to be prepared. (Message from Principal Miller)We have been discussing what we are thankful for in class. With this week being Thanksgiving, the kids wanted to tell what they are most thankful for during this season of being thankful. You can see their personalities shine through when reading these messages.:)Things We are Thankful For:I’m thankful for everything and everyone.- JosieI’m thankful for my family.-NolanI’m thankful for video games!- LoganI’m thankful for my pets and my family.- KennedyI’m thankful for me.-PaytonI’m thankful for everything and everyone.-TyeI’m thankful for my brother.-OwenI’m thankful for my family.-HaleyI’m thankful for my family.-HollyI’m thankful for my family.-AllyssaI’m thankful for Logan and Minecraft.-DawsonI’m thankful for the Lord and I’m mostly thankful for my family.-NatalieI’m thankful for my parents and my friends.- JosiahI’m thankful for books!- HaydnI’m thankful for my family.-JakeI’m thankful for my puppy because he’s so cute!-KylieI’m thankful that I am alive and I’m thankful for my family!-DominicI’m thankful for my cousin because he was a marine and fought in the war. I am also thankful for my family.-EthanI’m thankful for my mom.-SaraI’m thankful for my dad and games!-Dennis I’m thankful for my family and friends.-CalebI’m thankful for my wonderful, loving family.-AshleyI’m thankful for my teacher.-BobbySpelling Homework- I want to thank all of the parents who are ensuring their child is completing his or her spelling homework weekly. This is now worth 15 points so it is important to make sure it is completed and turned in weekly. Don’t forget that it is due on the Friday of that week. I do understand sometimes it is forgotten at home so I will accept it on the following Monday for those emergencies, but if it is not turned in by that Monday, it will be a zero in the grade book. Thank you for your understanding.Next Week’s Spelling Words: sh and chLesson #14 Spelling Wordssheep chasewish muchdish chopwash eachship suchcatch sureMath: A great way to help your child at home:We will be taking another assessment on Fluency with addition and subtraction skills. Please continue practicing at home on addition and subtraction skills.Go to the students tab to find new math links for the kids to use. I have added links to websites with skip counting, telling time, and subtraction skills. Specials ScheduleMonday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)Tuesday - ComputerWednesday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)Thursday – MusicFriday – Art/LibraryUpcoming Events:November 21, 22, 23- No School- Thanksgiving BreakNovember 30- Tiger Pride AssemblyI want to tell you how thankful I am for your children. They are all wonderful kids who make each day a joy to come to school! Thank you for your continued support with them. I am wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with your families and loved ones.

Check out the work gallery section of our blog. I have posted pictures of the Fall Party. I also have added pictures of the kids modeling read to self and word work with our new iPads. Next Week’s Spelling Words: We will not have any spelling words next week because it is only a two-day week. There will be no spelling homework next week either. Math: A great way to help your child at home:We will be taking another assessment on Fluency with addition and subtraction skills. Please continue practicing at home on addition and subtraction skills.Go to the students tab to find new math links for the kids to use. I have added links to websites with skip counting, telling time, and subtraction skills. •In math the kids have been learning about even and odd numbers. They are given a number like 30 and have to tell if that number is odd or even. Then they have to be able to explain how they know it is odd or even in writing or pictures.•Also telling time on an analog clock (not digital) will be very helpful. The kids have to be able to tell the time to five minutes. You can also practice with them by asking them how many minutes past or till the hour it is.Specials Schedule- We are starting our new rotation in specials. This is our new schedule.Monday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)Tuesday - ComputerWednesday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)Thursday – MusicFriday – Art/LibraryUpcoming Events:November 16- Family Movie Night from 7-8p.m. The movie showing will be the Lorax.November 21, 22, 23- No School- Thanksgiving BreakNovember 30- Tiger Pride Assembly

Next Week’s Spelling Words: short o spelling patterns o, aw, and allLesson #13 Spelling Wordsdog calllog ballpaw allsaw smalldraw fallstall clawMath: A great way to help your child at home:•In math the kids have been learning about even and odd numbers. They are given a number like 30 and have to tell if that number is odd or even. Then they have to be able to explain how they know it is odd or even in writing or pictures.•Flash cards for subtraction and addition skills. When using the flash cards if they pause for more than 10 seconds you put that fact to the side and know that is a fact you need to work on.•Also telling time on an analog clock (not digital) will be very helpful. The kids have to be able to tell the time to five minutes. You can also practice with them by asking them how many minutes past or till the hour it is.Specials Schedule- We are starting our new rotation in specials. This is our new schedule.Monday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)Tuesday - ComputerWednesday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)Thursday – MusicFriday – Art/LibraryUpcoming Events:November 9-Veteran’s Day Assembly breakfast at 8:30 and the assembly is at 9:30/ Early Dismissal 12:40November 16- Family Movie Night from 7-8p.m. The movie showing will be the Lorax.November 21, 22, 23- No School- Thanksgiving BreakNovember 30- Tiger Pride Assembly

I would like to start by thanking all of my wonderful parents who helped make this Fall Harvest Party a GREAT party! The kids had a blast and had AWESOME food for their party! Thank you parents!New Spelling Homework:Starting Monday your kid will be bringing home a new spelling/reading assignment. In the past the kids were not given a grade for their spelling homework, but starting this week they will be receiving a grade. Their weekly spelling grade for homework will be worth 15 points. They will also get a grade on their weekly spelling tests. I will send home the homework on Monday and it is due on Friday of that same week. Example of the Spelling section of the homework: Study GuideChoose three activities to complete and turn in using spelling words. You will receive 15 points for completing 3 activities. Please check off the activities after you completed them, attach work to this sheet, and turn in on Friday.The kids know what all of these choices are. They have done all of these in class except for puzzlemaker.com. Ideas: _____ Make Flashcards_____ Write words in alphabetical order._____ Type words 1-3 times_____Use each word in a sentence_____Make a word search: www.puzzlemaker.com_____ Rainbow write words_____ Write your words in stair steps_____ Sort words using letter or sound patterns (i.e. e, eel, ea- they will write those as the titles and under those headings write the spelling word with the corresponding spelling pattern under it.) _____ Other: I will send home a November’s Speller’s Choice Menu for the kids to choose from also. This has 7 other fun ideas to practice spelling words for the choice of other if they would like. The weekly homework also has a section for your child’s record of how many minutes they are reading. For their homework they need to read 60 minutes each week. That needs to be documented under the reading section with the amount of time read each day. There is a section for your child to sign and for you to sign as well before turning it in on Friday. I do want to thank you for all of your support at home. Next Week’s Spelling Words: Long e spelling patternsLesson #12 Spelling Wordswe cleanbe pleasekeep eatgreen meantree readthe peopleMath: A great way to help your child at home:•Flash cards for subtraction and addition skills. When using the flash cards if they pause for more than 10 seconds you put that fact to the side and know that is a fact you need to work on.•Also telling time on an analog clock (not digital) will be very helpful. The kids have to be able to tell the time to five minutes. You can also practice with them by asking them how many minutes past or till the hour it is.•In math we are working with adding number strands. They will have an addition problem like: 5+7+6+3+5+4= / 5+3+6+7=The kids are expected to look for numbers that equal ten, are close to ten, or are close to adding a double. This gives them mental strategies that will help strengthen their mental addition. This is the skill they need to have in order to really learn their addition facts. Specials Schedule-Monday - ArtTuesday - MusicWednesday - ComputerThursday – PE (Don’t forget to wear tennis shoes.)/ counselingFriday – Music/LibraryUpcoming Events:November 2- Tiger Pride AssemblyNovember 9-Veteran’s Day Assembly/ Early Dismissal 12:40November 16- Family Movie Night from 7-8p.m. The movie showing will be the Lorax.November 21, 22, 23- No School- Thanksgiving BreakNovember 30- Tiger Pride Assembly

Mrs. A. Smith

My name is Mrs. A. Smith and I am a first grade teacher at Willard East Elementary. I have a blog to communicate with you about what is going on in our classroom and school.